Registration is Open for BCC 30!

2017 marks the 30th year of the Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Challenge.

We're excited about this milestone, our updated name, and our new website!

You can now sign up for the BCC on our new website and record your bike rides online during the challenge- no paper mileage log required! 
 
You are still welcome to sign up in person at the Olympia Transit Center or at one of our events, and you can still use the paper Mileage Log if you prefer, but why not save paper and data-entry labor (for us) by signing up online!

 On the website, you’ll find all the helpful information you need about the BCC, plus you can create an account and log your miles online!
•    Create your account with a custom user name
•    Register for the BCC to receive coupons and win prizes
•    Join or create a team
•    Add a child to your account – OR kids can create their own account if they have an email address.
After you submit your account info, you’ll get an email to confirm and set up a password. Once you get that email (check your spam folder!), you can log back in and record miles during the challenge, check your progress or make changes to your account.

Visit our website and sign up for the BCC!

Registration for BCC 30 Opens April 1 (no fooling!)

Registration for the 30th Annual Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Challenge opens Saturday, April 1, 2017. We are a hair's breadth from launching the new BCC website- it should be up and running Monday morning, April 3. Once it is online, you'll be able to sign up and record each bike trip you make in May on the website, eliminating the need for a paper mileage log.

For those who prefer signing up in person or by mail, we still have the paper registration forms and mileage logs, available at the Olympia Transit Center starting April 1. You can sign up for the BCC there, or pick up a form and mail it in. You can also sign up at one of the several bike events happening around town in April. See the Events tab above for a list of locations and dates.

Construction Coming at Woodland Trail and Fones Rd.

 City of Olympia Press Release:

On Monday, April 3, work begins to replace the old, underground water Booster Pump Station, located just off of Fones Road on the north side of 6^th Street, with a new above-ground facility on the south side of 6^th Street, next to the Olympia Woodland Trail.

For the first few weeks of the project, construction of new water mains will occur in the northbound lane of Fones Road and on 6^th Street. During this time flaggers will direct traffic. Expect delays. After the first few weeks, construction will move off the street. Throughout the rest of construction, there will only be occasional periods with work in the street. Work is scheduled to complete by October 2017.

This project will replace a 45 year old drinking water booster pump station that is becoming increasingly unreliable. The facility is essential to the City’s water system. The project will ensure there is adequate water pressure and water supply for fires and summer usage. In addition, the new pump station will supply water to Hoffman Reservoir and the Log Cabin Road Reservoir (soon-to-be constructed). The new booster pump station will ensure the City meets requirements for the water supply system.

 When work begins under Fones Road, the contractor will have flaggers at the crossing of the Trail and Fones Road. Please obey their instructions and use caution moving through the area.

BCC30 T-shirt Preview

BCC30 T-shirt Preview: Yes, we've been flying a bit under the radar for a week or two- there's just so much to DO, to get ready for April and May events- including the 30th Annual Bicycle Commuter Challenge in May! One of those things is getting our t-shirts printed, and here's a pic the printers sent us to show what they'll look like! It was a tight race, but blue won out as the color for both the Classic and Fitted shirts.

Capital Bicycling Club Swap Meet Wed. Mar. 8

This is a quick reminder that the Capital Bicycling Club will be holding its annual bike and gear swap this Wednesday starting at 6:00pm at the Capital Museum Coach House. 

Table space is free. Non-members are welcome. Bring your cycling gear to sell or trade.

See Our Latest News...

Click below for our latest newsletter, with a link to our T-shirt color poll- 

YOU can help decide what color our 30th Anniversary t-shirts will be!

March-News-From-the-BCC

2017 Winter Mini-BCC Wraps Up

February 5, 2017 - biking home

My, how the Winter Mini-BCC has grown! Maybe next year, we'll drop the "Mini" from its name. This year, 225 people signed up and biked for transportation in February. We biked through every kind of winter weather, with average temperatures between 9 and 10 degrees below normal, and over an inch above normal rainfall. We had 8 prize winners in our random prize drawings and our photo challenge- check out their photos (and some of the prizes) on our Facebook page! We had tons of fun on International Bike to Work Day, snapping photos and biking in the cold and rain (and seeing photos from parts of the world that have a real winter- people biking through blizzards and ice makes our winter look practically tropical!). Thanks to all who participated and to our prize donors!

TBT, and a Survey

TBT: Back in 2010, this pic was not staged, just lucky! Our banner, bus ad, and someone biking over the bridge! The banner was made way back in 2006, and used through last year. We're finally retiring it and designing some new banners to reflect the Challenge in the BCC!










And, here's a chance to weigh in with a national organization about local biking conditions. People For Bikes has a survey out, asking for your input: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/placesforbikes/pages/city-rating-system

This Week's Prize in the Winter Mini-BCC

This week's prize in the Winter Mini-BCC goes to Craig G. -- this sweet pair of Tifosi riding glasses, donated by Old Town Bicycles!

The Winter Mini-BCC is ongoing- we'll have another prize drawing next week, and one on the last day of February.

Happy riding!

Winter Mini-BCC sign-up still open

Photo by participant Walk Er

221 participants so far in the Winter Mini-BCC! Thurston County residents can still sign up to win prizes:
http://conta.cc/2iVViCB
or click the button at the top of the right sidebar. Prize drawings each Friday in February!

International Winter Bike To Work Day Friday, Feb 10

 Come ride with us. Friday February 10th, 2017. 5th annual International Winter Bike to Work Day.
Commit today: http://winterbiketoworkday.org  (Be patient, the website is busy and loads slowly...)

Things are looking up weather-wise for Winter Bike to Work Day tomorrow, aside from the possibility of some windy conditions. Keep a weather eye peeled, and be safe out there.

If you bike to work or another destination, take a photo along the way and send it to us at dgreen@intercitytransit.com and we'll enter you to win a prize (if you're a Thurston County resident).
We'll also be doing our second prize drawing for those who are signed up in the Winter Mini-BCC!

First Winter BCC Prizewinner for 2017

198 people have signed up so far in the 4th Annual Winter Mini-BCC. We did our first random prize drawing this morning and Mary T. has won this light set from Portland Design Works, with a super-bright Radbot rear light! We'll have at least one prize drawing each week in February, plus a photo contest on Winter Bike to Work Day, Friday, Feb. 10. Stay tuned for details!

Winter Mini-BCC

The Winter Mini-BCC is off and rolling! 180 spirited souls have signed up so far, and it's only the first day! International Winter Bike to Work Day is coming up on Friday Feb. 10. We'll have a photo contest to celebrate. Sign up for the Winter Mini-BCC here: http://conta.cc/2iVViCB or click the button at the top of the sidebar.

Winter BCC Starts February 1

 The Thurston County Winter Mini-BCC starts February 1! Thurston County residents (or anyone biking for transport within Thurston County) sign up by clicking the button to the right. Fill out the online form, tell us a little about your commute, and you're in! This is one of our "Mini-BCC's", so there are no teams and no mileage log. Just ride your bike to get around this February, and we'll enter you to win prizes. Prizes include some nice bike lights, fenders and other accessories! We'll have a prize drawing each week in February, this week included.

NOTE: There is still a chance of ice on the roads. We'll have night-time temps near or below freezing several times this week. On icy mornings, choose your commute mode carefully, depending on the conditions on your route. Sometimes the bus is the best option! You can take your bike on the bus in the morning, and bike home in the afternoon when it has warmed up. Check out this short video about loading your bike on the bus!

Heading Downtown? Ride Your Bike! :-)

Traffic and parking will likely be tight

in downtown Olympia tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 21), so if you're planning to be downtown in the middle part of the day, you might consider riding your bike to get there! Or walking or riding the bus, of course...

Sign up for the Winter Mini-BCC

Intercity Transit’s Winter Mini-BCC celebrates Thurston County residents of all ages and abilities who use bicycling as a means of transportation year-round. We'll hold a few random prize drawings during February, among those who sign up- it's that simple!
Anyone who lives or works in Thurston County can participate. You don't have to be employed or a student- just use your bicycle as a means of practical transportation, with at least part of your trip inside Thurston County.
Sign up online at: http://conta.cc/2iVViCB anytime between now and the end of February. There's no need to track your miles. You'll be asked for a brief description of your winter biking habits on the sign up form, and that's it!
The Winter Mini BCC runs for the whole month of February and includes celebration of International Winter Bike To Work Day, on Friday February 10, 2017.

WSTC Seeking Input Through 1/18

Here's an opportunity to have your voice heard:

The Washington State Transportation Commission would like to get your input on how our transportation system is working and ways to improve it. The survey is open until January 18. It includes questions about priorities for funding, like bigger highways vs. bike/ped infrastructure, and takes just a few minutes to complete.

http://voiceofwashingtonsurvey.org

BCC office opens for 2017

Yay, we're back in the saddle at the BCC! Next up: the Winter Mini-BCC: for the rugged Thurston County commuters who bike year-round, the "Winter Mini" runs for the month of February each year. Stay tuned here for all the info about signing up, etc., coming soon!

Holiday Shopping: Keeping it Local, Sustainable and Safe

Photo from 2012 snowstorm

 
Traffic and parking issues seem to get worse during the second half of December, along with the weather! You can beat all these issues and still shop locally (and support BCC sponsors!) and get around safely by riding the bus when it's too slippery to ride your bike. If you get caught in bad weather when out on your bike, remember every Intercity Transit bus has room for two bikes on the easy-loading front bike rack.

Local bike shops are having great sales events, and shopping with them and other BCC sponsors is a great way to support the BCC and ensure that our local economy thrives!

Redeem Your 2016 BCC Coupons

Happy Autumn everyone~ here's a quick reminder that most BCC Coupons expire at the end of November, so make sure you get out there and use those coupons before it's too late!  :-)

(Check individual coupons to verify the expiry date, as they are not all the same.)